Body-protector.



PATENTED- 001:. 16, 1906.

G. LLPIERO BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAE/'1. 1906.-

uanms PETERS co., Wasnlndrou, by c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BO'DY -PRO TECT OR'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application fil'ed'M rch 7,1906. Serial No. 304,703.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BodyProtectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices such as are used by athletes, and particularly those who play games of a somewhat rough charactersucl1 as cricket, foot-ball, lacrosse, hockey, base-ball, and the like; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, light, and relatively inexpensive device which will protect the wearer against blows received in the game.

As herein shown, the invention is embodied in what is commonly called a shin-guard to protect the leg between the ankle and knee, but the principle of the invention may as well be embodied in guards or protectors for other parts of the body.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation or inside view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view or plan of the device. Fig. 4: shows a slightly different construction, which will be hereinafter described.

In the shin-guard shown, 1 designates a base-piece of some strong flexible fabric, which may be leather, cut to the desired or proper shape. This part is adapted to fit closely to the leg or other part of the person to be specially protected. On the outer face of the base-piece 1 is mounted a guard-piece 2, which will be of some light, resilient, and strong sheet fabric, as indurated fiber material, for example. This part 2 is of concavoconvex form and rests only at its lateral edges on the base-piece 1, thus leaving a hollow or space between the two, as seen clearly in Fig. 3. The guard-piece 2, which is to receive the blow, is secured to the basepiece by means of straps 3 3, which are passed through slits 4 in the guard-piece 2 and slits 5 in the base-piece 1. Preferably for the sake of economy and convenience the straps 3 3 are provided each withabuckle 6 and serve as the straps for securing the guard in place on the leg. This double use of the straps, however, is not absolutely essential.

In-Fig. 4 a construction is shown where the guard-piece 2 is represented as secured to the base-piece by other means than the straps used for fastenin'gthe' guard to the leg. In this figure the last-named straps 7 are secured by suitable means to the base-piece, and the guard-piece is secured to the base-piece in a yielding manner by thongs 8, which pass through holes or slots in the parts.

It will be noted that the guard illustrated and described has certain characteristicsnamely, the flexible base-piece 1 is relatively broad, and the guard-piece 2 is narrower, so that a considerable margin of the base-piece extends laterally beyond the guard-piece at each side. Also the lateral edges of the guard-piece, which rest upon the outer face of the base-piece, are loosely connected with the latter, so that when a blow is received by the guard-piece, tending to flatten it a little, it is free to expand laterally independently of the base-piece.

When the guard or protector is in place, a blow on the arched guard-piece will not be felt injuriously by the wearer, as the blow tends to flatten the guard-piece, and there is no direct transmission of the force of the blow, owing to the air-space between the parts 1 and 2.

For ventilation the base-piece has in it holes or perforations 9.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A device for the purpose specified, consisting of a relatively broad base-piece of strong, flexible material, an elongated, up right, concavo-convex guard-piece made from strong resilient material and considerably narrower than the base-piece, said guardpiece resting and bearing loosely at its lateral edges on the outer face of the base-piece and movable thereover, flexible means for holding the guard-piece loosely in place on the base-piece, and means for securing the basepiece to the. body.

. 2. Adevice for the purpose specified, consisting of a base-piece of strong, flexible material, a concavo-convex guard-piece, made from strong, resillent material and conslderablynarrower than the base-p1ece, said guard- 'piece having in it slits and being applied to the middle part of the base-piece with its convex face outward, and straps for securing the device to the body of the wearer, said straps engaging the slits in the guard-piece.

3. A device for the purpose specified, consisting of a base-piece of strong, flexible material, a guard-piece 2, of light, strong, resilient sheet material, having a set concave shape, applied to the outer face of the basepiece, and securing straps 8, which are threaded through slits in the respective basepiece and guard-piece, said straps serving to secure the two pieces together and also serving as means for securing the device to the body of the wearer.

4. A device for the purpose specified, consisting of a base-piece 1, of strong, flexible material provided with a plurality of ventilating-apertures, a guard-piece 2, of light, strong, resilient sheet material, having a set presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE L. PIERCE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. FIRTH, H. G. HOSE. 

